Lab Photos
PhD Dissertation Defenses
Rachel Dickerson Defense
April 2024

From left-to-right: Mallika Sarma, Tony Merriman, Rachel Dickerson, T.G. Schurr,
Katey Mari Defense
February 2024

From left-to-right: T.G. Schurr, Katey Mari, Morgan Hoke (on screen), Heather Burris, Emily Ng
Clare Super Defense
November 2024

From left-to-right: T.G. Schurr, Charlene Compher and Morgan Hoke (top), Justin Clapp (bottom), Clare Super
Volney Friedrich Defense
May 2023

From left-to-right: Marni Falk, T.G. Schurr, Volney Friedrich and Babette Zemel
Alexandra Kralick Defense
April 2023

From left-to-right: Shriya Amin, Volney Friedrich, Raquel Fleskes, T.G, Schurr, Alexandra Kralick, Clare Super, Katey Mari and Caitlin O’Connell.
Elizabeth Oakley Defense
September 2022

From left-to-right: Theodore Schurr, Elizabeth Oakley, Marge Bruchac, and Megan Kassabaum
Aylar Abdolahzedah Defense
August 2022

From left-to-right: Theodore Schurr, Dennis Sandgathe (top), Shannon McPherson (bottom), Aylar Abdolahzedah, Deborah Olszewski.
Raquel Fleskes Defense
May 2021

From left-to-right:
Matthew Dulik Defense
April 2012

Newly minted Dr. Matthew Dulik and Theodore Schurr, Department of Anthropology, May 2012
Leah Lowthorp Defense
May 2013

From left-to-right: T.G. Schurr, Lisa Mitchell, Deborah Thomas, Leah Lowthorp, Mary Hufford and Daniel Ben-Amos.
Dissertation: “Scenarios of Endangered Culture, Shifting Cosmopolitanisms: Kutiyattam and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in Kerala, India”
Krista Latham Defense
June 2008

From left-to-right: Chuck Weitz, Krista Latham, Leonard Greenfield, Joseph Lorenz, Jonathan Friedlaender, T.G. Schurr.
Celebration of the successful defense, Department of Anthropology, Temple University. Photo Credit: Christie Rockwell
Omer Gokcumen Defense
May 2008

From left-to-right:
Graduation Events
Raquel Fleskes PhD Hooding
2024 AABA Meetings

Because of graduating in May 2021 after the deadline for submission her dissertation in the Spring Semester graduation, Raquel did not go through commencement at the University of Pennsylvania that academic year. Offered the opportunity to be “officially” hooded at the 2024 AABA meetings, she went through graduation event held at the end of the conference, with T.G. Schurr doing the honors.
Maira Asif Graduation
May 2024

Maira completed her B.A. at Penn and was an Anthropology major. She completed a senior thesis entitled “Mental Health in the Age of Social Media: The Role of Digital Aesthetics and Displays of Vulnerability in the Experience of Women of Color”
Nayan Shankaran Lab Internship
Summers 2021-24

During his high school studies at The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, PA, Nayan worked on Genographic Project studies focused on Puerto Rico and Guam. He has now started his first year of college at Stanford University.
Penn Anthropology Undergraduate Graduation
May 2004

From left-to-right: Maggie Cocca, T.G. Schurr, Nisha Mehta
Both Maggie and Nishi worked on the Old Believers study and were co-authors on the paper summarizing the analysis of mtDNA variation in this population: Rubinstein S, Dulik MC, Gokcumen O, Zhadanov SI, Osipova LP, Mehta N, Cocca MF, Gubina M, Posukh O, Schurr TG. 2008. Russian Old Believers: Genetic consequences of their persecution and exile, as shown by mitochondrial DNA evidence. Hum Biol 80(3):203-238.
Conference Participation
AABA Conference – Baltimore, MD
March 2025

Georgia Project Team Members with Their Posters
Left-to-Right: Aram Yardumian, Alexandra Faeth, Shriya Amin, Mia Tomeo, T.G.Schurr
Xiongnu Conference – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
October 2008

Participants Having Dinner at the Ikh Mongol Restaurant
Left-to-Right:
AAPA Meetings – Philadelphia PA
April 2007

Jonathan Friedlaender and T.G. Schurr Comparing Notes
Lab Member Photos & Events
Schurr Christmas Party
December 2019

Penn Biological Anthropology and Archaeology Students. From left-to-right: Seated: Raquel Fleskes, Lizzie Oakley, Alexandra Kralick, Clare Super, Aisha Chugtai, Rachel Dickerson, Katey Mari. Standing: Paul Mitchell, Kevin Burke, Aylar Abdolahzedah.
Photo Credit: T.G. Schurr
Schurr Lab Team
Spring 2012

Lab members from left-to-right: Seated: Akshay Walia, Miguel Vilar; Standing: Amanda Owings, Jill Gaieski, Meagan Rubel, Haleigh Zillges, Rosa Zedek, Ryan Zahalka, Theodore Schurr. Photo taken at the Ben Franklin sculpture at Locus Walk on the Penn campus.
Schurr Lab Team
Spring 2011

From left-to-right: T.G. Schurr, Matthew Dulik, Ayken Askapuli, Akiva Sanders, Amanda Owings, Rachel Gittelman, Lydia Gau, Halleigh Zillges, Miguel Vilar, Paul Babb. Photo taken in the Chinese Rotunda, Penn Museum.
Genographic Team
Fall 2011

From left-to-right: Akshay Walia, Amanda Owings, Jill Gaieski, Theodore Schurr, Akiva Sanders, and Miguel Vilar. Photo taken in the Mesoamerican Gallery of the Penn Museum.
Schurr Lab Team
Spring 2009

From left-to-right: Front: Lydia Gau, XXXXX; Back: John Lindo, Rachel Gittelman, Amanda Owings, Paul Babb, Annick McIntosh. Photo taken in the Goddard Lab Building.
Schurr Lab Team
Spring 2005

From left-to-right: Seated: Aslihan Sen, Athma Pai, Theodore Schurr; Standing: Sergey Zhadanov, Samara Rubinstein, Matthew Dulik, Omer Gokcumen, Sam XXXXX, and Patricia Bermudez. Photo taken in the Goddard Labs Building.